Justifying spacer or space band



' July 12,1927.

1,635,960 J. L. ROUSSEAU Y JUSTIFYING SPACER OR SPACE BAND Filed Oct-4. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 12, 1927. 1,635,960

J. L. lROUSSEAU JUSTIFYING SPACER OR SPACE BANDl Filed @m4, 192e 2 sheets-sheet 2 l Patented July 12, 1927.

UNIT-Ei) PArENT oFFiCE- JosE1 H `LEE ROUSSEAU, or v nfr''ooKLYN, NEW YoRK, AssIGNoRVTo 'MERGENTHALER LINCTYPE COMPANY, A CORPORATION CE NEW YORK.

JUsTiIEYING SPACER on SPACE BAND.

' Appncamamed october 4, 1926. ,senin No. 139,310.

This invention relates to justifying spacers or spacebands, such as are used in commercial linotype machines for the justification of a composed matrix line preparatorj,7 to the slug casting operation. These spacebands consist each of a short wedge-shaped member which is locked or' held stationarily in the line, and longer relatively movable wedge-shaped member which cxtendsbelow the line, the two members being connected together by a sliding `yoint so that the longer kone may be thrust upwardly through the line tov expand `or elongate the same in effecting its justification. In the course of composition, the space bands are released from vtheir storage magazine above the line and drop vertically in front of a rapidly rotating` star wheel-,or pusher, which acts to advance the linefprogressively toward the left composition proceeds. As the spacebands 'enter the line, the lower ends are caught bythe star wheel and thrown violently against the preceding matrix Ain displacing it to permit the spacebandv to descend to its proper position in the line. As a result, the thin side walls of certain matrices are frequentiy caved in or otherwise damaged, giving" rise to the production of imperfect type bars and causing much annoyance and delay in locating the damaged matrices forreplac'emcnt. In overcoming these difliculties, it isi proposed, according to the present invention, to change the ordinary form of the spacebands so that their lower ends will avoid contact with the side walls ofthe matrices 'during the composition ofthe line. To this end., the longer wedge-shaped member of the spaceband, in the preferred embodiment illustrated, is provided at .its lower end with a out or recess whichis so formed and located that the desired result is obtained without iinpairing the strength and durability of the spaceband.

Referring to the drawings :g

F ig. l is a front view ofthe 'asser-iibling mechanism of a linotype machine illustrat- `:ing the? manner in'which thefs'pacebands enter the composed line; E

F1g.v2 1s a rear view on an enlarged scale of entering the line between the star wheel and the matrix which precedes it;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken onthe line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the improved spaceband; and

f Fig. 5 is ay prespective view of an ordinary linotype matrix.

The improved spaceband (see Fig. A) comprises twowedge-shaped membersA and Al of different lengths,'whose outer faces are straight and whose inner faces are `in'- clined at the same angle so that the outer faces will remain parallel at all times. The shorter member A is provided at its upper end with projecting ears c for supporting and holding it stationary during justifica-- tion, and on its inclined face with a pair of tongues orguidesA2 which are undercut on theirv inner edges and arranged infslots A3 formed in the longer member A1.y This longer member presentstwo marginal bars A* and an intermediate centrally located bar A, the latter being beveled on its opposite edges to fit the undercut edges of the tongues A2. rihere is thus provided between the two wedge-shaped' members A, A1, a slid'ingjoint or connection which serves to hold them in contacting relation and permits the longer member A1 to be shoved upwardly through the line of matrices X in performing the justifying action. The thick lower'end portion of the member A1 is beveled or rounded on its outer face at A6 vand has its edgestapered, inwardly to facilitate the entrance of the spaceband into the composed line and to reduce wear on the parts. So far as den scribed, the spaceband is of ordinaryv lcou- Vstruction and welllnown to those skilled in the art.

The characteristic and distinguishing fea-v ture of the present invention lies in recese una" `ing or cutting away the lorferend of the lmember A1 as at A7, the advantages of which improvement will best be understood from a general description of the manner in `which the spaceband is introduced into the line duringV composition. As shown in Figli, the spacebands are storedin a magazin-e B, which is arranged directly above theassembler elevatorkC, and are released singly by anescapement (not showni'under the con-V trol of a finger heyD acting through the y A 4 y n regular keyboardfpower-mechanism and the showingtheimprovedspaceband 1n the acti pivoted y[rocking lever D1, 'IheV released bands drop by gravity through chute B1 and enter the line, at a slight inclination, be? tween a rotarystar wheel E and the matrix previously composed in line'. The `star Wheel E acts upon the matrices and spacebands alike, i. e. `to assist them in reaching Eil ico

g Y l 1,635,960

an upright position within the assembler C and to push them successively against the line, which is moved bodily forward step by step according to the thickness of the element last added to the line. it will be noted by reference to Fig. 2, which shows a normal relation of the parts, that the upper characters c of the matrices X are disposerv approximately on a level with the axis of the star wheel E, so that from the time the thick lower end of a descending spaceband, if constructed as ordinarily, reaches the po sition shown until it passes below said level the character side walls m1 of the preceding matrix is liable to damage by the thumping of that portion of the spaceband caused by the rapid rotation of the star wheel. 'lhis Condition is even more pronounced when the matrix is assembled. at the upper level (see dotted lines in Fig. because, then, the sid-e walls of both characters are subjected to such pounding on the spaceband in entering the line. As a matter of fact, the upper character, being above the horizontal center line of the star wheel, is more liable to damage in the latter case, since the vibrations of the spaceband as it engages the star wheel are obviously much greater than when it has reached the full line position indicated.l rllhe cut or recess AT before inentioned obvia-.tes these di'liicullies by a'liording a clearance between the character side walls of the matrix and the lower end of the descending spaceband during its short period of unstability in entering the composed line.

It should be understood that while the notch A7, as shown herein, is of a peculiar tapered form, it might be extended upwardly along the inner face of the band or otherwise modified and still function in the required manner. The present form, however, is preferred since it fully serves the purpose for which it was intended without affecting the strength of the member A1 or changing the angle of the beveled face AG. rlhis angle should be a complement of the angle assumed by the bands as they escape` from the chute Bl, so as to conform to the exposed vertical face of thel preceding matrix and thus ease the action of the parts.

The invention is of course applicable to other forms of spacebands, the one' shown being only one of several forms now in coinmercial use.

Having thus described my invention, its construction and its mode of operation7 what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is as follows:

l. In a linotype machine equipped with circulating matrices, means for assembling the matrices in line, and a series of justifying spacers arranged to enter the line from above, said spacers being cut away at their lower ends so as to avoid contact with the side walls of the matrixr characters as they enter the line.

2. In a linotype machine equipped with circulating matrices, -means for assen'ibling the matrices in line, and a series of justify'- ing spacers arranged to enter the line from above, said spacers having their lower end vportions beveled and formeel with cuts or recesses to avoid contact with the side walls of the matrix characters as they enter the line.

3. A justifying spaceband adapted to be composed in line with linotype matrices and comprising a movable slotted wedge-shaped member and a relatively stationary cooperating wedge-shaped member slidably con nected thereto, the lower end portion of the movable member being formed with a cut or recess adapted to avoid contact with the side walls of the matrix characters as the spacebainl enters Vthe line, for the pinjiiose described.

4. A justifying spaceband adapted to be composed in line with linotype matrices and comprising a movable slotted wedge-shaped member and a relatively lstationary cooperating wedge-sifiaped member slidably connected thereto, the lower end portion of the movablel member being reduced in width and thickness to facilitate its entrance into the line and cut away to avoid contact with the side walls of the matrix characters.

5. A justifying spaceband adapted to be composed in line with linotvpe matrices and comprising a movable slotted wedgeshaped member and a relatively stationary cooperating wedge-shaped inei'i'ilier slidably connected thereto, the lower end portion of the movable member being beveled on one side face to acilitate the entrance of the Eoaceband into the line, and said beveled face being formed with a cnt or recess lo avoid. contact with the side walls of the matrix characters.

G. rlhe justifying spaceband comprising the movable member A1 and the relatively stationary member A. the lower end portion of said movable member being formed with the beveled side face A, andthe clearance cut or recess A7.

In testimony whereof, I have affixed my signature hereto.

JOSEPH LEE ROUSSEAU. 

